What is Dental Laboratory Technology?

Welcome to the World of Dental Labs!

Smiles are a big deal. When you smile, you want your teeth to look good. Some people need help to fix their teeth. This is where dental laboratory technology comes in!

Dental laboratory technology is the making of things that fix teeth. These are things like crowns, bridges, dentures, and implants. These help people eat, talk, and smile better.

Let's learn about this fun job!

What Dental Lab People Do

Dental lab technicians make the things that dentists put in your mouth. They are like artists who make teeth!

They use:

• Metals (like cobalt-chrome)
• Ceramics (like zirconia)
• Acrylics (like plastic)
• CAD/CAM resins (special stuff for 3D printers)

They have cool tools too:

• CAD/CAM systems (computers that help make teeth)
• 3D printers (make teeth from a computer picture)
• Milling machines (cut teeth from blocks)
• Porcelain furnaces (heat up stuff to make teeth)

How They Make Teeth

Making new teeth is like a fun game with steps:

1. The dentist takes a picture or makes a mold of your mouth
2. The lab tech puts this in a computer with CAD software
3. The tech makes the new tooth using milling or 3D printing
4. They make it look nice by hand
5. They send it to the dentist who puts it in your mouth

This helps fix teeth fast! The dental equipment they use is very special.

Dental Labs Help Dentists A Lot

Dentists and lab techs work as a team. The dentist sees what your mouth needs. Then the lab tech makes it!

Some cool new things they make:

• Digital dentures (fake teeth made by computers)
• Implant-supported prosthetics (teeth that screw into your jaw)

These new ways make teeth faster and better!

Becoming a Dental Lab Tech

Want to be a dental lab technician? Here's how:

You can go to school for this job. You learn about:

• Teeth shapes
• What materials to use
• How to use CAD/CAM computers

Or you can learn by working in a lab.

Getting a certification from the NBC (National Board for Certification) helps too!

Money and Jobs

Let's talk about money and jobs in dental labs:

What to Know	The Facts
How much money?	$42,510 to $51,664 each year
Are jobs growing?	Yes! More people need teeth fixed
What helps get paid more?	Knowing CAD/CAM and 3D printing
Who makes the most?	People with NBC certification

The job is growing because:

1. More old people need teeth fixed
2. More people want pretty teeth
3. New tech makes the job more fun

Tools of the Trade

Dental lab technicians use many tools for dental handpiece work and more:

• Scanners take pictures of teeth
• Design software helps make teeth on computers
• Milling machines cut teeth from blocks
• 3D printers build teeth layer by layer
• Polishing tools make teeth shiny

Today, 60% of labs use computers to make teeth. This is called digital workflow. It's faster than the old way!

The Old Way vs. The New Way

Dental lab technology has changed a lot:

Old Way:

• Make molds by hand
• Use wax to shape teeth
• Pour hot metal
• Lots of hand work

New Way:

• Scan teeth with computers
• Design on screens
• Print or mill teeth
• Finishing by hand

The new way is 50% faster! A crown that took 1 week now takes 2-3 days.

What They Make

Dental lab techs make many things:

1. Crowns - caps that go on teeth
2. Bridges - fake teeth that connect to real teeth
3. Dentures - full sets of fake teeth
4. Implants - metal posts with teeth on top
5. Orthodontic things - help move teeth

These things must fit just right and look real. The dental 3D LCD printer helps make them perfect!

Special Materials

The materials used in dental labs are special:

• Zirconia - super strong white stuff
• E.max - glass that looks like teeth
• PEEK - plastic that's safe in your mouth
• Titanium - metal that's light and strong

Each material has good and bad points. The lab tech picks the best one for each job.

A Day in the Life

What does a dental lab tech do all day?

Morning:

• Check new orders from dentists
• Scan models
• Start computer designs

Afternoon:

• Mill or print new teeth
• Add color to make teeth look real
• Check that everything fits

End of Day:

• Polish finished work
• Pack things to send to dentists
• Clean up the lab

Each day brings new and fun challenges!

Questions People Ask

Here are some things people want to know:

Is a dental lab tech the same as a dentist? No! Dentists work on real teeth in your mouth. Lab techs make the fake teeth in a lab.

How long does it take to make a crown? With new CAD/CAM tech, about 2-3 days. The old way took 1-2 weeks.

Are dental lab technicians in demand? Yes! As people live longer and want nicer teeth, more lab techs are needed.

What's the difference between analog and digital labs? Analog labs use hands and tools. Digital labs use computers and machines.

The Future Looks Bright

The world of dental laboratory technology is growing fast:

• AI will help design teeth better
• New materials will be stronger and look more real
• Bioprinting may grow real teeth one day!

The average salary keeps going up too. It rose 8.3% in recent years to $51,664.

Skills You Need

To be good at dental laboratory technology, you need:

• Good eyes for small details
• Steady hands
• Art skills
• Tech smarts for computers
• Problem-solving skills

These make you good at making teeth that look real and work well.

Learning More

Want to learn more about being a dental lab tech? Try these:

• Visit a dental lab
• Talk to people who do this job
• Look at schools that teach this
• Join the NADL (National Association of Dental Laboratories)

The more you learn, the better you can be at this job!

Wrap-Up

Dental laboratory technology is where art meets science to make teeth! It helps people smile, eat, and feel good.

If you like art, tech, and helping people, this could be your job!

Remember:

• It pays well
• Jobs are growing
• You can learn in school or at work
• New tech makes it fun

Now you know what dental laboratory technology is all about!